Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643

Optimization of the form of a building on an oval base

Mariusz Adamski

Department of Heat Engineering, Technical University, PL-15-351 Bia!ystok, ul. Wiejska 45E, Poland
Received 13 January 2006; accepted 15 February 2006
Abstract
The aim of this work is to analyze the possibility of optimizing an abstract, symmetrical with respect to the northsouth axis form of a
building with vertical walls and windows, and constant volume and height. The external south partitions of the building are walls with
whole windowpanes. The heat losses through walls, oors, roof and the gain of solar radiation through transparent partitions with
respect to their direct correlation with the shape of building form are next taken into consideration. The gain of solar energy for the north
part of the building have been disregarded.
The optimization problem of the form of the building on an oval base is examined by variational methods taking into account two
opposite criteria:
minimum construction costs including the cost of materials and erection,
minimum seasonal demand for heat energy.
The obtained solution is composed of the semicircular bounding of the northern part of the building and a curve of the southern part
described by a parametrical function. The design is also compared with the buildings on square and circular bases.
The calculations have been performed using specially prepared computer program and illustrated by a numerical example.
r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Optimization; Building; Heat losses; Heat gains; Solar radiation
1. Introduction
Optimization problems of the shape of buildings with
regard to the energy consumption were the subject of many
publications. To papers discussing unicriterial optimization
of building shape belong, among others to [14]. In Fokins
paper [1] the shape of a building of given volume was
optimized, taking the minimium heat losses as the criterion.
Spherical shape was obtained as the result. With an
additional restraint introduced that the building be a
rectangular prism, a cubic shape was obtained. The
problem of determining optimum dimensions of a building
on a rectangular plan with the criterion of minimum heat
power requirements per 1 m
3
was solved by Gadomski in
[2]. Heat gains due to insolation were not taken into
account. The geometry of building shape was analyzed in
paper [3]. The concept of geometric compactness was
introduced as the ratio of the area of external walls with
respect to the volume of the building. Buildings of various
shapes were composed using four equal cubes of side a,
obtaining the geometric compactness coefcients between
4/a to 14,1/a. In [4] a building of prismatic shape was
optimized, taking into account heat gains due to insolation
through transparent and opaque partitions. On the basis of
the criterion of the minimum energy demand for heating,
optimum ratio of the dimensions of sides of the building
and the optimum number of storeys were determined. In
[5], the Authors analyzed the inuence of shape coefcient
of the building and that of the climatic zone on the
seasonal energy demand index.
The examples of application of multi-criteria optimiza-
tion methods in the solution of architectural problems
can be found in [69]. The problems of optimization of
ARTICLE IN PRESS
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E-mail address: adamski@pb.bialystok.pl.
energy-saving buildings were also presented comprehen-
sively by Owczarek [10]. He presented a model of solar
radiation heat gains across windows. In his paper the
thermal resistance of the outer walls was xed geometry of
building shape, linear dimensions of the hexagonal building
plan at the imposed angles and wall azimuths. Bi-criterial
problem of the optimization of building shape on
hexagonal plan was also solved for the criteria of minimum
cost of materials and minimum yearly heating energy cost.
In papers [1114] the multi-criteria optimization problem
was presented for buildings of a given volume and
octagonal in plan. Decision variables were: building height,
wall lengths, wall azimuths, window sizes and thermal
resistance of individual external partitions Minimum
construction costs and minimum the seasonal heating cost
were assumed as optimization criteria.
The papers related to the optimization of form analyze
buildings with vertical walls. There are two groups of tasks:
optimization of building form on a polygonal base, which
is presented in numerous publications and optimization of
building form on an oval base. The optimization problem
of the form of a building with an arbitrary base [12,15] has
been solved by variational methods. The criterion of
minimum building cost and minimum annual heating cost
are assumed for optimization. The decision variables of the
problem are the curves describing the base of the building.
The obtained solution is composed of a circular segment
bounding the northern part of the building and a curve
described by a sixth degree polynomial bounding its
southern part. It was assumed that the ratio of the area
of the windows to that a wall element is a trinomial square.
The aim of the work [16] was to analyze the possibility of
optimizing an abstract, symmetrical with respect to the
northsouth axis form of a building with vertical walls and
windows, and constant volume and height. The external
south partitions of the building are walls with whole
windowpanes (Fig. 1). The heat losses through walls,
oors, roof and the gains of solar radiation through
transparent partitions with respect to their direct correla-
tion with the shape of building form are next taken into
consideration. The gains of solar energy for the south part
of the building have been calculated using the following
approximation:
E E a
o
y
1
cos
2
a
o
y
2
sin
2
a
o
. (1.1)
The maximum error of approximation can be found for the
azimuth of 901 (east or west elevation). The gains of solar
energy for the north part of the building have been
disregarded.
The optimization problem of the form of the building on
an oval base is examined by variational methods taking
into account two opposite criteria:
minimum construction costs including the cost of
materials and erection,
minimum seasonal demand for heat energy.
The obtained solution is composed of the semicircular
bounding of the northern part of the building and a curve
of the southern part described by a complicated logarith-
mic function. In order to compare the building on a square
base and a building on a circular base have also been
considered.
The obtained solutions have been considerably inu-
enced by
the model of solar energy gains,
the applied sort of external partitions.
The effect of the physical environment on a building was
the subject of numerous works. The problems connected
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Nomenclature
A heat transfer area, area of ceiling or oor, m
2
,
A
c
A
f
c specic heat at constant pressure, J/(kg K)
c
c
, c
e
unit cost of heat energy, of electrical energy,
respectively, z"/MJ
dl length element of a wall or of a window, m
E the annual heat losses, MJ/year
F cost, z"
h building height, m
k thermal conductivity coefcient, W/(m
2
K)
S the area, m
2
SD annual number of degree-days [Kday]
t temperature, 1C
t
e
, t
i
mean temperature of the external air, of heated
rooms,
o
C
t
ce
, t
fe
mean temperature of the air of unheated garret,
cellar, 1C
V volume of the building m
3
Greek symbols
a angle
r mean density of air, kg/m
3
jo1 coefcient for temperature of the air of
unheated garret and cellar, where: j
c

t
i
t
ce
t
i
t
e
; j
f

t
i
t
fe
t
i
t
e
;
Subscripts
c, o, f, w a ceiling, a window, a oor, a wall, respectively
e, i external, interior
ce, fe unheated garret, cellar
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1633
with the optimization of the form of a building are related
to the following, most important, quantities:
SDannual number of degree-days [Kday],
y
1
, y
2
average values of the total amount of solar
radiation falling during the heating season on the south,
east or west vertical plane [MJ/m
2
], y
1
south elevation,
y
2
east or west elevation.
A model is developed to optimize an abstract, symmetrical
with respect to the north-south axis form of building with
vertical walls and windows, and constant volume V and
height h (Fig. 2). The south external partitions of the
building are walls of whole windowpanes (Fig. 1). The heat
losses through walls, oors, roof and the gains of solar
radiation through transparent partitions with respect to
their direct correlation with the shape of building form are
taken into consideration.
2. Components of thermal balance of a building
The thermal balance of a building is composed of [16]:
heat losses through walls, oors and ceilings,
heat losses through transparent partitions,
heat losses due to inltration of air through external
partitions,
and
gain of solar radiation through transparent partitions,
heat gains emitted by lighting installations, household
equipment and human bodies,
heat losses or gains recovered from the ventilation air.
Each component plays a different role in the general
thermal balance of a building. The heat losses through
walls, oors, roof and transparent partitions and the gain
of solar radiation through transparent partitions with
respect to their direct correlation with the shape of building
form are next taken into consideration.
2.1. Annual heat losses through the walls, ceilings and oors
The annual heat losses E through an element h dl
2
of a
wall E
w
and through an element h dl
2
of a window E
o
, a
ceiling E
c
and oor E
f
were found from the formulae:
E
w
3600 24 k
w
SD h dl
2
10
6
0:0864 k
w
SD h dl
2
, 2:1
E
o
0:0864 k
o
SD h dl
1
, (2.2)
E
c
0:0864 j
c
k
c
SD A
c
, (2.3)
E
f
0:0864 j
f
k
f
SD A
f
. (2.4)
The annual heat loss due to ventilation E
V
can be
expressed by the formula
E
V
3600 24 SD c r
n
i
V
3600
10
6
24 1011 1; 25 SD n
i
V 10
6
0; 03033 SD n
i
V, 2:5
where n
i
is a number of air changes per hour, usually
n
i
122, but in the energy-saving buildings it can be
n
i
0:5.
2.2. The heat gain by solar radiation
The gain of direct solar radiation through transparent
partitions is examined. It is assumed that the momentary
gain due to solar radiation E
S

[kW] through a vertical

window, the azimuth of which is a
w
and the area A, is
y

S
a
w
AJ cos a
S
a
w
, (2.6)
where the symbols J [kW/m
2
] and a
S
denote the intensity
and the azimuth of solar radiation.
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Fig. 1. The whole windowpane structure wall of security, tempered glass.
Fig. 2. View of oval-shaped building and symbols used.
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1634
It should be pointed out that the difference a
S
a
w
does
not depend on the axis we measure the azimuth from. In
further calculations azimuths will be determined with
regard to plus semi-axis OY. The value of azimuth angle
at noon is zero, whereas its value at 6 pm is p/2. The
vertical window azimuth has been determined with regard
to the normal , that is a
o
0 for the south elevation and
a
o
p=2 for the east elevation (Fig. 1). The function (2.6)
can be assumed as follows:
y

S
a
o
AJ cos a
S
cos a
w
sin a
S
sin a
w
. (2.7)
The heat gain due to solar radiation for the examined
partition in the heating season have been obtained by
integrating the above equation:
y a
o

_
heating
season
y

S
a
w
dt

_
heating
season
AJ t cos a
S
t cos a
w

sin a
S
t sin a
w
dt. 2:8
Hence we obtain
y
1
y 0
_
heating
season
J t cos a
S
t dt (2.9)
and
y
2
y p=2
_ _

_
heating
season
J t sin a
S
t dt (2.10)
for A 1 m
2
.
The issue has been thoroughly examined in paper [13]. In
particular the seasonal solar radiation energy for vertical
planes has been established for Warsaw. Different numbers
of the heating season days have been analyzed. The
variation of seasonal radiation has been calculated using
the cosine Fourier series including its four rst elements as
follows:
y a
w
a
0
a
1
cos a
w

a
2
cos 2a
w
a
3
cos 3a
w
. 2:11
For instance for south plane we obtain
y
1
y 0 a
0
a
1
a
2
a
3
(2.12)
and for east or west elevation we obtain
y
2
y p=2
_ _
a
0
a
2
. (2.13)
Use of this model of the heat gain by solar radiation
require four parameters. The estimated values a
1
, a
2
, a
3
, a
4
are included in [13]. From the evenness function cosine it
appears that:
y a
w
y a
w
y a
w
j j . (2.14)
The function (2.11) has been used for the azimuths of
vertical wall from 0 to p/2 as an approximation of the
results of calculations included in paper [13].
3. Formulation of the optimization problem
The subject of our considerations is a building with
vertical walls, constant volume V and height h. The base of
the building has the shape shown in Fig. 2. It was assumed
that the building is symmetrical with respect to the
northsouth axis. The walls of the south part of the building
are partitions with whole windowpanes. The gain in solar
energy for the north part has been disregarded, external
partitions of this part of the building can be transparent or
not. In the considered problem a constant value of overall
heat-transfer coefcient k
w
for the whole outer partition in
the north part of the building has been assumed.
The aim of the present considerations is to determine the
form of the building using two opposite criteria:
minimum building cost,
minimum seasonal cost of heating.
The function expressing the construction cost is dened
as follows:
F
1
2
_
A
1
B
1
c
o
h dl
1
2
_
A
1
B
2
c
w
h dl
2

V
h
c
c

V
h
c
f
D
1
,
(3.1)
where c
w
, c
o,
c
c
and c
f
are the construction costs of wall,
window, ceiling and oor, respectively, z"/m
2
, V volume of
the building m
3
and D
1
other costs independent of the
decision variables, z".
The function expressing the seasonal heating cost is
described in the following way:
F
2
0:0864 SD 2c
e

_
A
1
B
1
k
o
h dl
1

_
A
1
B
1
k
w
h dl
2
_
j
c
k
c
j
f
k
f
_ _

V
2h

f
V
V
2
_
2c
e

_
A
1
B
1
y a
w
h dl
1
D
2
, 3:2
where c
e
indicates the price of thermal energy used for
heating the building, z"/MJ, dl
1
, dl
2
are the lengths of
elements of the curves y
1
and y
2
, D
2
other costs
independent of the decision variables, z". The denition
of parameter f
V
follows from (2.5):
f
V
0:35104 n
i
. (3.3)
Because
dl
1;2

1 y
02
1;2
_
dx, (3.4)
dl
1
cos a
w
dx, (3.5a)
dl
1
sin a
w
dy
1
(3.5b)
and
tan a
w
y
0
1

dy
1

dx
(3.6a)
ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1635
or
a
w
arctan y
0
1

arctan
dy
1

dx
_ _
, (3.6b)
where dy
1
40 and y
0
1
dy
1
=dx tan a
w
for west eleva-
tion the south part of the building or dy
1
o0 and y
0
1

tan a
w
for east elevation the south part of the building,
we obtain:
F
1
2
_
x
a
0
c
o
h

1 y
02
1
_
dx
2
_
x
a
0
c
w
h

1 y
02
1
_
dx
V
h
c
c

V
h
c
f
D
1
,
3:7
F
2
0:0864 SD c
e
2
_
x
a
0
k
o
h

1 y
02
1
_
dx
_

_
x
a
0
k
w
h

1 y
02
1
_
dx j
c
k
c
j
f
k
f
_ _
V
2h

f
V
V
2
_
2c
e
_
A
1
B
1
y arctany
0
1
_ _
h

1 y
02
1
_
dx D
2
. 3:8
The decision variables of the problem are the functions
y
1
(x), y
2
(x). The following conditions have been assumed:
1. y
1
(x) and y
2
(x) are continuous functions of C
2
class
within the range (0, x
a
),
y
1
x ; y
2
x 2 C
2
0; x
a
. (3.9)
2. The functions y
1
(x) and y
2
(x) are zero at the point, the
abscissa of which is x
a
:
y
1
x
a
0, (3.10)
y
2
x
a
0, (3.11)
3. The oval base is free of nibs, that means
y
0
1
0 0, (3.12)
y
0
2
0 0, (3.13)
lim
x!x

a
y
0
1
1, (3.14)
lim
x!x

a
y
0
2
1, (3.15)
4. The functions y
1
(x) and y
2
(x) bound a region of the area
V/h, that is
2
_
x
a
0
y
1
x y
2
x
_ _
dx V=h. (3.16)
5. The form of the building is symmetrical in relation to
OY axis (Fig. 2).
The set of nonpredominant valuation can be determined
by the method of weight coefcients. The minimum of the
objective function is sought:
F lF
1
1 lF
2
, (3.17)
where lA[0, 1], conditions (3.9)(3.16) being satised. In
the present work the weight coefcient l can be subjected
to the modied number N of utilization time (years) of the
building as follows:
l
1
N 1
. (3.18)
The modied number of utilization years is the number
of years multiplied by a coefcient expressing the rate of
interest and ination. If the value of the coefcient l is
zero, this means disregarding the costs of building
materials and construction. The same effect is produced
by assuming the time of utilization of the building to tend
to innity (N-N).
The assumption of l 1 corresponds to the utilization
costs being disregarded, that is to the assumption that
N 0. Both cases are not interesting, therefore it is not the
entire set of compromises corresponding to 0plp1 that
will be determined, but its part
1
2
XlX
1
101
, (3.19)
corresponding to the utilization period of 1100 years:
1pNp100. (3.20)
4. Solution of the optimization problem
Eqs. (3.7), (3.8) and (3.17) leads to
F l c
o
1 l 0:0864 SD c
e
k
o
2h
_
xa
0

1 y
02
1
_
dx
l c
w
1 l 0:0864 SD c
e
k
w
2h
_
xa
0

1 y
02
2
_
dx
l c
c
c
f
_ _
1 l 0:0864 SD c
e
j
c
k
c
j
f
k
f
_ _ _ _

V
h
l D
1
1 l 0:0864 SD c
e
f
V
V 1 l D
2
2c
e
1 l h
_
xa
0
y arctan y
0
1
_ _

1 y
02
2
_
dx. 4:1
Taking into consideration (3.16) we obtain the Lagrange
Function [17]:
F A
o
_
x
a
0

1 y
02
1
_
dx A
w
_
x
a
0

1 y
02
2
_
dx C
D E
_
x
a
0
y arctan y
0
1
_ _

1 y
02
1
_
dx
2l
1

_
x
a
0
y
1
x y
2
x
_ _
dx l
1
V=h, 4:2
ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1636
where
A
o
l c
o
1 l 0:0864SDc
e
k
o
2h,
A
w
l c
w
1 l 0:0864SDc
e
k
w
2h,
C l c
c
c
f
_ _
1 l 0:0864SDc
e
j
c
k
c
j
f
k
f
_ _ _ _
V=h,
D l D
1
1 l 0:0864SDc
e
f
V
V 1 l D
2
,
E 2c
e
1 l h.
This is an isoperimetric problem of the variational
calculus. Conditions (3.9)(3.15) enable us to determine the
integration constants and the constant l
1
.
Functional (4.2) reaches its extreme value, if Eulers
equations:
f
y
0
1
y
0
1
y
00
1
f
y
1
y
0
1
y
0
1
f
xy
0
1
f
y
1
0, (4.3)
f
y
0
2
y
0
2
y
00
2
f
y
2
y
0
2
y
0
2
f
xy
0
2
f
y
2
0. (4.4)
are satised. The symbol f
z
denoting the integrand qF=qz,
that is
d A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_ E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_
_
_
_
dy
0
1
y
00
1
2l
1
0, 4:5
A
w

1

1 y
02
2
_
3
y
00
2
2l
1
0. (4.6)
Because y
00
1
dy
0
1
=dx and taking into consideration (4.5)
we obtain
d A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_ 2l
1
dx 4:7
and on integrating
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
2l
1
x C
1
, 4:8
where
dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
4a
2

a
1
9a
3
a
1
3a
3
y
02
1

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
y
0
1
1 y
02
1
_ _
2
.
4:9
From condition (3.12) we nd the integration constant
C
1
. Because y
0
1
0 0, therefore dy arctan 0
_
dy
0
1
0 and
0 2l
1
0 C
1
, (4.10)
or
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
2l
1
x. 4:11
The left part of the obtained equation is the
function depended on y
0
1
, This is designated as f y
0
1
_ _
.
The value of x can be easily calculated from the following
equation:
x
1
2l
1
f y
0
1
_ _

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_, 4:12
i.e. for assumed value of the directional coefcient y
0
1
tangent to the curve y
1
we know the abscissa of the point of
tangency. The ordinate of the point of tangency of the
looked curve y
1
we nd from
y
1
x
_
x
x
a
y
0
1
dx (4.13a)
or
y
1
x
_
x
a
x
y
0
1
dx: (4.13b)
Furthermore, the application of (3.10) yield:
y
1
x
a

_
x
a
x
a
y
0
1
dx 0. (4.14)
ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1637
We calculate
_
y
0
1
dx on integrating by parts and taking
into consideration (4.12) and we nd
y
1
x
_
y
0
1
dx y
0
1
x
_
dy
0
1
dx
xdx y
0
1
x
_
xdy
0
1

1
2l
1
y
0
1
f y
0
1
_ _

_
f y
0
1
_ _
dy
0
1
_ _
. 4:15
Because
_
f y
0
1
_ _
dy
0
1

_
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
_

_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_

_dy
0
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
, 4:16
hence
y
1

_
y
0
1
dx
1
2l
1
y
0
1
f y
0
1
_ _
_
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
_
C
2
, 4:17
or
y
1

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
E y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_ C
2
. 4:18
From (3.10) y
1
x
a
0 and from (3.14) lim
x!x

a
y
0
1

1 and regarding from (4.9) the following condition:
lim
y
0
1
!1
y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_ _
lim
y
0
1
!1
y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
_ _
4a
2

a
1
9a
3
a
1
3a
3
y
02
1

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
_
_
_

y
0
1
1 y
02
1
_ _
2
a
1
3a
3
, 4:19
we nd the integration constant C
2
:
0 0 E a
1
3a
3
C
2
,
or C
2
E a
1
3a
3
. Hence (4.18) takes the form
y
1

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
E y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_ E a
1
3a
3
,
4:20
i.e. for assumed value of the directional coefcient
y
0
1
tangent to the curve y
1
we know the ordinate of
the point of tangency. Eqs. (4.12) and (4.20) show
the curve delimiting the south part of the building base
as follows:
x
1
2l
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_
E

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
,
y
1

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
_
_
_
E y
0
1

1 y
02
1
_

dy arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _
dy
0
1
_
_
_ E a
1
3a
3
,
where y
0
1
is parameter, which takes optional real values.
Taking into consideration (3.5a), (3.5b) and (3.6a), (3.6b)
we obtain
x a
w

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey a
w
sin a
w
E
dy a
w

da
w
cos a
w
_ _
,
y
1
a
w

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey a
w
cos a
w
E
dy a
w

da
w
sin a
w
_ _
E a
1
3a
3
. 4:21
Above show the curve delimiting the south part of the
building base. The angle a
w
takes real values from section
p=2; p=2
_
.
On integrating (4.6) we obtain
y
0
2
x

1 y
02
2
_
2l
1
x
A
w
,
hence
jy
0
2
x j
x

A
w
=2l
1
_ _
2
x
2
_ . (4.22)
The expression (2l
1
x/A
w
) is the sine of the inclination
angle of the tangent at the point (x, y
2
(x)) to the OX-axis.
Because y
0
2
x40 for x x 2 0; x
a
, we have
y
0
2
x
x

A
w
=2l
1
_ _
2
x
2
_ . (4.23)
Hence, on integrating, we obtain
y
2
x

A
w
=2l
1
_ _
2
x
2
_
C
R
2
. (4.24)
ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1638
From the condition (3.11) y
2
x
a
0 we nd the
constant C
R
2
:
0

A
w
2l
1
_ _
2
x
2
a

C
R
2
hence
C
R
2

A
w
2l
1
_ _
2
x
2
a

.
From condition (3.15) lim
x!x

a
y
0
2
1 we nd
A
w
=2l
1
x
a
and
y
2
x

A
w
2l
1
_ _
2
x
2

x
2
a
x
2
_
. (4.25)
It is seen that
y
2
2
x x
2
x
2
a
. (4.26)
This is an equation of a circle with its centre at the point
O
2
(0, 0) and the radius R
2
A
w
=2=l
1
x
a
.
The area of the semicircle bounded by the OX-axis, is,
for y
2
(x
a
)o0,
S
2
2
_
x
a
0
y
2
x
a

dx
p
2
x
2
a

p
2
A
w
2l
1
_ _
2
. (4.27)
Parameter l
1
is determined from (3.16), which takes the
form
2
_
p=2
0
x a
w
y
0
1
a
w
da
w

p
2
x
2
a
V=h. (4.28)
From (4.21) we obtain
x
0
a
w

dx
da
w

cos a
w
2l
1
A
o
Ey a
w
E
d
2
y a
w

da
2
w
_ _
,
y
0
1
a
w

sin a
w
2l
1
A
o
Ey a
w
E
d
2
y a
w

da
2
w
_ _
, 4:29
and for angle a
w
p=2 we nd co-ordinates of the point A
1
(x
a
, 0) (Fig. 2).
x p=2
_ _

1
2l
1
A
o
Ey p=2
_ _ _ _
,
y
1
p=2
_ _
0. 4:30
The integral
I
1
4l
2
1
_
p=2
0
x a
w
y
0
1
a
w
da
w

_
p=2
0
A
o
Ey a
w
sin a
w
E
dy a
w

da
w
cos a
w
_ _
A
o
Ey a
w
E
d
2
y a
w

da
2
w
_ _
sin a
w
da
w
4:31
was numerical calculated. Then from (4.28) and (4.30) we
obtain
2l
1

I
1

p
4
A
o
Ey p=2
_ _ _ _
2
_ _
2h
V
_
. (4.32)
To determine the functions F1, F2 and F we must
calculate the integrals
I
2

_
x
a
0

1 y
02
1
_
dx,
I
3

_
x
a
0
y arctan y
0
1
_ _ _ _

1 y
02
1
_
dx,
I
4

_
x
a
0

1 y
02
2
_
dx.
The rst two have been converted to the following forms:
I
2

_
p=2
0

dx
da
w
_ _
2

dy
1
da
w
_ _
2

da
w
,
I
3

_
p=2
0
y a
w

dx
da
w
_ _
2

dy
1
da
w
_ _
2

da
w
and have been determined using numerical procedures.
Whereas the integral I
4
has been presented by the use of
elementary functions in the following way:
_
x
a
0

1 y
02
2
_
dx
p
2
A
s
2l
1
px
a
. (4.33)
The values of functions F
1
, F
2
and F have been
determined using the specially prepared computer
program.
5. Numerical example
The present calculations have been performed using
specially prepared computer program. The data assumed
for computation were as follows:
c
w
145.29 z"/m
2
, c
o
522.46 z"/m
2
,
c
c
225.47 z"/m
2
, c
f
261.18 z"/m
2
,
c
e
0,10 z"/MJ,
k
w
0.386 W/m
2
/K, k
o
1.4 W/m
2
/K,
k
c
0.306 W/m
2
/K, k
f
0.324 W/m
2
/K,
j
c
1.0, j
f
1.0,
SD 4000 K day, h 1 m,
S 2.00 m
2
.
The values of the parameter l used for computation were
l 1=2; 1=11; 1=26; 1=51 and 1=101,
which corresponds to the modied utilization times of the
building, expressed in years
N 1; 10; 25; 50; 100.
The results of the calculations for the building on an oval
base have been included in Table 1. The obtained solutions
are very much alike. The points of the set of nonpredo-
minant evaluations which have been determined are shown
in Fig. 3 and the corresponding forms of the bases of the
buildings in Fig. 4.
In order to compare evaluation the functions F
1
, F
2
and
F have been determined for the above data, for the building
ARTICLE IN PRESS
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1639
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Table 1
The results of the optimization computation of the form of a building on an oval base
l[dimensionless] 1/2 1/11 1/26 1/51 1/101
N [a] 1 10 25 50 100
x
a
[m] 0.79897 0.80501 0.80925 0.81205 0.81405
a
w
p=36 . . . x, y
1
[m]
0 0.00 0.79 0.00 0.78 0.00 0.76 0.00 0.75 0.00 0.75
1 0.07 0.79 0.07 0.77 0.08 0.76 0.08 0.75 0.08 0.74
2 0.14 0.78 0.15 0.76 0.15 0.75 0.15 0.74 0.16 0.73
3 0.21 0.77 0.22 0.75 0.22 0.73 0.23 0.72 0.23 0.72
4 0.28 0.75 0.29 0.72 0.30 0.71 0.30 0.70 0.30 0.69
5 0.34 0.72 0.35 0.70 0.36 0.68 0.37 0.67 0.37 0.67
6 0.40 0.69 0.42 0.66 0.43 0.65 0.43 0.64 0.44 0.63
7 0.46 0.65 0.48 0.63 0.49 0.61 0.49 0.60 0.50 0.59
8 0.52 0.61 0.53 0.58 0.54 0.57 0.55 0.56 0.55 0.55
9 0.57 0.56 0.58 0.54 0.59 0.52 0.60 0.51 0.60 0.51
10 0.61 0.51 0.63 0.49 0.64 0.47 0.64 0.46 0.65 0.46
11 0.66 0.45 0.67 0.44 0.68 0.42 0.68 0.41 0.69 0.41
12 0.69 0.40 0.70 0.38 0.71 0.37 0.72 0.36 0.72 0.35
13 0.72 0.33 0.73 0.32 0.74 0.31 0.74 0.30 0.75 0.30
14 0.75 0.27 0.76 0.26 0.77 0.25 0.77 0.25 0.77 0.24
15 0.77 0.21 0.78 0.20 0.78 0.19 0.79 0.19 0.79 0.18
16 0.79 0.14 0.79 0.13 0.80 0.13 0.80 0.13 0.80 0.12
17 0.80 0.07 0.80 0.07 0.81 0.06 0.81 0.06 0.81 0.06
18 pX2 0.80 0.00 0.81 0.00 0.81 0.00 0.81 0.00 0.81 0.00
S
1
[m
2
] (% S) 0.997 (49.9) 0.982 (49.1) 0.971 (48.6) 0.964 (48.2) 0.959 (48.0)
S
2
[m
2
] 1.003 1.018 1.029 1.036 1.041
S [m
2
] 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000 2.000
Heat losses [kWh/a] 550.4 548.62 547.42 546.65 546.1
Heat gains [kWh/a] 152.52 152.24 152.06 151.95 151.9
F
1
[z"] 2645.8 2638.9 2634.3 2631.3 2629.2
F
2
[z"/a] 143.2 142.7 142.3 142.0 141.9
F [z"/a] 1 394.5 369.6 238.2 190.9 166.6
141.8
142
142.2
142.4
142.6
142.8
143
143.2
143.4
143.6
2625 2630 2635 2640 2645 2650
F2 [z /a]
F
1

[
z
]
circle F1 = 2647.1 z
F2 = 143.3
A (N=1)
F = 1394.5 z /a
B (N=10)
F = 369.6 zl/a
C (N=25)
F = 238.2 z /a
D (N=50)
F = 190.9 z /a
E (N=100) = perfect evaluation F1 = 2 629.2 z
F = 166.6 z /a F2 = 141.9 z /a
l
l
l l
l
l
l
l
l
Fig. 3. The set of nonpredominant evaluations with indication of square, circle and perfect evaluation.
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1640
on a square base and a building on a circular base. The
results of calculations are included in Tables 2 and 3.
6. Conclusions
The polyoptimization of the form of a building on an oval
base has been solved by variational method. The obtained
solution is composed of the semicircular bounding of the
northern part of the building and a curve of the southern
part described by a parametrical function.
The ratio of the area of the southern part of the building
S
1
to the area of the building S decreases with the number
N, which determines the modied utilization time of the
building. In the present problem they are S
1
=S 49:9%
for N 1 and S
1
=S 48:0% for N 100 (Fig. 5).
Values of the eccentricity parameters of the southern
part of the building S
1
, dened as y
1
(0)/x
a
, are shown in
Fig. 6. If the number N increase, then eccentricity
parameter y
1
(0)/x
a
decrease.
The examined forms on an oval base are better than the
form of the building on a circular base (Fig. 3) and much
better than the form of the building on a square base.
Values F
1
, F
2
for the building on a square base are out
the Fig. 3.
ARTICLE IN PRESS
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9
x [m]
y
1

[
m
]
N=1
N=10
N=25
N=50
N=100
Fig. 4. The forms of the preferred bases of a building for various values N.
Table 2
The results of the computation of the form of a building on a square base
l [dimensionless] 1/2 1/11 1/26 1/51 1/101
N [a] 1 10 25 50 100
S
1
50% S [m
2
]
Heat losses [kWh/a] 605.9
Heat gains [kWh/a] 163.5
F
1
2862.0 z"
F
2
159.3 z"/a
F [z"/a] 1510.6 405.0 263.2 212.3 186.0
Table 3
The results of the computation of the form of a building on a circular base
l[dimensionless] 1/2 1/11 1/26 1/51 1/101
N [a] 1 10 25 50 100
S
1
50% S [m
2
]
Heat losses [kWh/a] 550.7
Heat gains [kWh/a] 152.6
F
1
2647.1 z"
F
2
143.3 z"/a
F [z"/a] 1395.2 371.0 239.6 192.4 168.1
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1641
The cylinder-shaped form of the building involves
higher operating costs and the investment costs in
comparison with the analyzed forms of an oval shape.
The investment and operating costs F of the building on
a circular base related to one year are higher for the
buildings on a circular base.
Optimization of the form of building should be a
standard tool of designers at an early stage of the
architectural project.
References
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ARTICLE IN PRESS
0.47
0.475
0.48
0.485
0.49
0.495
0.5
1 10 25 50 100
N [years]
S1 / S
Fig. 5. The ratio of the area of the southern part of the building S
1
to the area of the building S as the function the modied number N of utilization time
of the building.
0.9
0.91
0.92
0.93
0.94
0.95
0.96
0.97
0.98
0.99
1
1 10 25 50 100
N [years]
y1(0)/xa
Fig. 6. The eccentricity parameter y
1
(0)/x
a
as the function of the modied number N of utilization time of the building.
M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1642
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M. Adamski / Building and Environment 42 (2007) 16321643 1643